human growth and development | personality development | self improvement in Holy Quran

Human growth and development has always been a topic of discussion. A lot has been written and many efforts have been made regarding human development.

Personality development is the basic unit of any society. For the well-being of any society, it is imperative to focus on individual personality development without which social and societal development is impossible.

Self improvement and personal growth is very important before education and training of other people. Holy Quran has emphasized on self improvement and personal growth. The guiding principles of the Holy Quran are being written below.

Quran Majeed is a complete code for life. The Holy Quran has taken a clear stand regarding human growth and development psychology. The Holy Quran has given clear teachings about human growth and development psychology because Allah Almighty knows what human psychology is and how to train it. Allah Ta'ala has described all the rules and regulations of humanity in Quran Majeed. How should a person live together with other people? All instructions are given in Quran. Quran provides the best guidance for personality building. How is a successful person? Let's read the principles from the Holy Quran.

In this paper you will study the following topics:

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EYE:

Arms:

Hands:

Ear:

Walking style:

Conversation and Communication:

To crook the cheek with arrogance:

Keep the voice low:

Eating and Drinking:

Protecting the private parts:

Clothing should be clean:

Consciousness and intellect::  Consciousness psychology

 

EYE:

Eye is a great blessing of Allah and plays an important role in human personality. The Holy Quran states:

یَعْلَمُ خَآىِٕنَةَ الْاَعْیُنِ وَ مَا تُخْفِی الصُّدُوْرُ (Ghafir, 40 : 19)

He knows the treacherous eyes, and also those secrets which the breasts hide (inside them).

In this verse, man is being instructed to use his eyes correctly. Beware of the treachery of the eyes. In another place, (قُلْ لِّلْمُؤْمِنِیْنَ یَغُضُّوْا مِنْ اَبْصَارِهِمْ (an-Nur, 24 : 30)

 Direct the believing men to keep their eyes always lowered۔

It is advised to keep your eyes downcast, it is chastity and modesty and is also a means of social respect and honor.

 

Arms: 

          The arm is also an important part of the human body and the arm is used for handling and grasping. One of the instructions of the Holy Qur'an is that a person should always be useful to others, should keep his arms of kindness bent for others. See instructions from the Holy Quran:

وَ اخْفِضْ جَنَاحَكَ لِلْمُؤْمِنِیْنَ۝ (al-Hijr, 15 : 88)

and keep your wings (of affection and care) lowered over the believers (to make them feel contented and cared for).

 

Hands:    

Hand and arm are one thing. It has been said in the Holy Qur'an about hands that do not tie your hands to your neck so that they cannot help others. Hands should always be ready to help others. This support may be financial or physical. See instructions in the Holy Quran:

وَ لَا تَجْعَلْ یَدَكَ مَغْلُوْلَةً اِلٰی عُنُقِكَ وَ لَا تَبْسُطْهَا كُلَّ الْبَسْطِ فَتَقْعُدَ مَلُوْمًا مَّحْسُوْرًا۝ (al-Isra’, 17 : 29)

And neither keep your hand tied to your neck (giving nothing to anyone), nor stretch it wide open (giving away all) lest you should sit back, blamed (and) consumed.

 

Ear:   

The ear is an important part of the human body. Man can commit many evils through the ear. Curiosity is one of the main evils of the ear. Man listens to people's vices and listens to people's words to know people's weaknesses. Curiosity is forbidden. By trying to find out the faults of others, one cannot pay attention to one's own weaknesses. Every human being should try to correct his weaknesses. It is stated in the Quran:

وَّ لَا تَجَسَّسُوْا (al-Hujurat, 49 : 12) And spy not (on someone’s unknown matters or secrets),

 

Walking style: 

          The way of walking is the identification of human personality. The way of walking of any man is the identification of his personality. People pay a lot of attention to the way they walk. One should walk slowly, should take middle steps, should always walk straight, should not turn his face right or left while walking. One should not walk arrogantly, but should walk with humility. Read the advice of the Holy Quran:

وَ لَا تُصَعِّرْ خَدَّكَ لِلنَّاسِ وَ لَا تَمْشِ فِی الْاَرْضِ مَرَحًا ؕ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ لَا یُحِبُّ كُلَّ مُخْتَالٍ فَخُوْرٍۚ۝ وَ اقْصِدْ فِیْ مَشْیِكَ (Luqman, 31 : 18,19) And do not turn your face away from the people (in arrogance), nor walk haughtily on earth. Surely, Allah does not love the arrogant one who walks gloatingly in self-conceit And adopt moderation whilst walking۔

 

Conversation and Communication:

Language is the main means of social communication. Much has been written and researched on the use of language. The Holy Qur'an has given important instructions to people regarding communication and negotiation. During the conversation, you should keep your tone soft, speak in a low tone, use good words, if you want to talk or give a message, you should adopt a good manner. Abusive language should be avoided. What instructions does the Qur'an give regarding conversation? Read:

 وَ قُوْلُوْا لِلنَّاسِ حُسْنًا (al-Baqarah, 2 : 83)

And (also) talk of piety to the common people (in a polite and pleasant manner).

 

To crook the cheek with arrogance:

Distorting the cheek with arrogance is considered a very bad habit, it involves insulting and contempt for other people, which is against human dignity. This style is prohibited in the Quran. When you are talking to someone, you should look at him and talk, you should have good facial expressions, you should avoid rudeness. Always smile and talk. Read the advice in the Holy Quran:

وَ لَا تُصَعِّرْ خَدَّكَ لِلنَّاسِ  (Luqman, 31 : 18) And do not turn your face away from the people (in arrogance),

 

Keep the voice low:

          Keeping your voice low while talking to people is one of the best qualities. While talking to others, the tone should be soft, the voice should be low and polite. A loud and harsh voice has been hated and this voice has been compared to the sound of a donkey and has been described as bad. It is being advised in the Holy Quran that :

          وَ اغْضُضْ مِنْ صَوْتِكَ ؕ اِنَّ اَنْكَرَ الْاَصْوَاتِ لَصَوْتُ الْحَمِیْرِ (Luqman, 31 : 19)

and keep your voice low. Surely, the worst voice is the bray of a donkey.

 

Eating and Drinking:

          Eating is an essential part of human life. It is impossible to imagine human life without food and drink. There are clear instructions regarding food and drink in the Holy Quran that eat pure and halal and do not spend wastefully in food and drink, but manage as much as can be eaten easily. Wasteful spending has been described as a satanic act. It is advised in the Holy Quran. Is:

كُلُوْا وَ اشْرَبُوْا وَ لَا تُسْرِفُوْا ۚ اِنَّهٗ لَا یُحِبُّ الْمُسْرِفِیْنَ (al-A‘raf, 7 : 31)

Eat and drink, but do not spend extravagantly because certainly He does not like the extravagant۔

 

Protecting the private parts:

Protecting the private parts is one of the most important instructions in the Qur'an. This advice is a guarantee of social reform and good mutual relations. While describing the attributes of believers, it has been said that they are the protectors of the private parts. The private part should be covered with a cloth and the private part should not be exposed in front of anyone. One should choose a place to urinate where no one is watching. Adultery and fornication are unpardonable crimes. By protecting the private parts of the body, one is saved from such sins. Read the teachings of the Holy Quran:

وَ الَّذِیْنَ هُمْ لِفُرُوْجِهِمْ حٰفِظُوْنَۙ۝ (al-Ma‘arij, 70 : 29) And those who safeguard their private parts۔

 

Clothing should be clean:

A lot of emphasis is placed on neatness of clothing. Purification of clothing has been declared as a ritual for all Islamic worship. Neat and clean clothing is an important feature of human personality. A person's good habits can be judged by the neatness of the outward dress. Respect and dignity in the society increases. It is stated in the Quran:

وَ ثِیَابَكَ فَطَهِّرْ۪ۙ۝ (al-Muddaththir, 74 : 4)

And (always) keep your (visible and spiritual) attire purified and cleansed (as before).

 

Consciousness and intellect::  Consciousness psychology

Consciousness is one of the greatest blessings of Allah. Intellect is another name for consciousness. Allah Ta'ala has given a gift like consciousness to man and advised him to use it. Consciousness and use of reason is essential in every case, otherwise there is no difference between man and animal. It is advised to investigate and think carefully in any case. What is good and what is bad? What should be done and what should not be done? Which is the wrong way and which is the right way? It has been repeatedly emphasized in the Holy Quran that both wrong and right paths have been told to man, now it is his discretion which path he chooses for himself. Now it depends on the person which path he chooses using his intellect and consciousness. Read and understand the verses in the Holy Quran:

اَلَمْ نَجْعَلْ لَّهٗ عَیْنَیْنِۙ۝ وَ لِسَانًا وَّ شَفَتَیْنِۙ۝ وَ هَدَیْنٰهُ النَّجْدَیْنِۚ۝

 (al-Balad, 90 : 8,9,10) Have We not made for him two eyes? And (have We not given him) a tongue and two lips? And (have We also not) shown him the two highways (of good and evil)?

فَاَلْهَمَهَا فُجُوْرَهَا وَ تَقْوٰىهَا۪ۙ۝ (ash-Shams, 91 : 8) Then He inspired it with (discrimination between) vice and virtue,

لَقَدْ اَنْزَلْنَاۤ اِلَیْكُمْ كِتٰبًا فِیْهِ ذِكْرُكُمْ ؕ اَفَلَا تَعْقِلُوْنَ۠۝ (al-Ambiya’, 21 : 10) Verily, We have revealed to you the Book, which contains (means and substance for) your admonition. So do you not have sense?

(EnglishTranslation of Holly Quran is taken from Irfan ul Quran by Dr. Tahir al Qadri)